Unseen slides of QE2 being built, fitted out, on trials and early years.

[Thomas Hypher]

Just wonderful! I particularly like the dynamic shots with the welding (previous post) and the photo looking aft down Boat Deck from what would become the "Bit beneath the Bridge", showing the prefabricated aluminium sections that would make up Sun and Signal decks going into place.

[Rod]

They are truly magnificent.
How many of you in 1969, would have thought that those bits of steel and aluminium, would mean so much to so many?
I still remember my time on board vividly, for the most part anyway, but the other day I was thinking that today, I would need one of you to show me around, Don't recognize half the places by dacor anyway!

[Rob Lightbody]

In honour of this evening's chat, I have uploaded the next set of slides, this time from June 1968 (approximately).  Again some of these are my favourites, with little moments captured - the delivery van in front of QE2's massive bow, the workers apparently taking a break high up top, and also on a scary looking railing at the bow.

The full size ones are in the album - LINK TO ALBUM HERE

It goes without saying, all images are © The QE2 Story 2019-2020.

[Peter Mugridge]

Rob - the "unknown hovercraft" is an SRN6 and it looks to be at Southampton; it's in Seaspeed livery so it's arriving from Cowes; this is the fast service that later passed to Red funnel with their "Sheerwater" class hydrofoils and subsequently the present Red Jet operation.

[June Ingram]

Great slides, Rob !  What a treasure to have ! 

[Lynda Bradford]

My favourite photo is this one showing the davits: 



What is your favourite photo from the selection that Rob has posted above and in the album

[Bob C.]

This one is of great interest to me.  Reading Potter and Frost's QE2 The Authorised Story, I was always intrigued with the photo of the Queen looking at the launch mechanism and wondered how it worked.  I know the mechanics involved in a launch but still don't understand the sequence.   The below slide of the empty slipway makes me wonder even more.

[Rod]

As a former Deck Engineer....one thing strikes me, in fact sticks out like a sore thumb!! Why were the boats put up on the davits when they had not even had their first topcoat of paint?
Painting round all those wires and blocks would take twice as long!

[Bob C.]

As a former Deck Engineer....one thing strikes me, in fact sticks out like a sore thumb!! Why were the boats put up on the davits when they had not even had their first topcoat of paint?
Painting round all those wires and blocks would take twice as long!

Noticed that and whole-heartedly agree.  Seems bass ackwards.

[Rob Lightbody]

And here's tonights uploads.  These are from around December 1968, although it was hard to be definite.

As always - the gallery with full quality images is here - https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=207

[Bob C.]

When is the next batch being posted?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

When is the next batch being posted?

Here you are, Bob! These are from the Gallery, continuing from where I left off last time.

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=207

QE2 under construction in Clydebank, September 1967







And wouldn't it be wonderful if we knew who these two gentlemen were!

[Waverley]

Isabelle.
Could this photo be sent to a Clydebank local newspaper to see if anyone can recognise these two workers and their names?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Isabelle.
Could this photo be sent to a Clydebank local newspaper to see if anyone can recognise these two workers and their names?

That would be for others to decide and act upon... but a good idea!

[Lynda Bradford]

Isabelle.
Could this photo be sent to a Clydebank local newspaper to see if anyone can recognise these two workers and their names?

I can send the picture to the editor of the Clydebank Post, I had suggested doing this at the slide show last year, but never got around to sending the picture. Thanks for the reminder Robert.